Creating a Brand as a Young Professional

The first time I heard someone mention, "You should begin building your personal brand," I actually rolled my eyes. It seemed something that happened for influencers or CEOs, not college students who were still trying to get through Monday 8 am classes. But as the years went by, through late nights of brainstorming, projects, and internships, I came to realise that creating a brand isn't necessarily about showy logos or well-crafted LinkedIn updates. It's really about how people perceive you, what you believe in, and how you present yourself.

And whether or not you realise it, you already have a brand. Each and every interaction, message, project you put out there contributes to a small part of how people think about you. So, the actual question isn't whether or not you're creating a brand, it's how you're defining it.

1. Begin with what you care about

You don’t have to know what you’ll be doing in five years. Just start out with what excites you. It could be marketing, tech, fashion, finance, or sustainability. It could be helping others to grow, storytelling, or making something that facilitates people’s lives.

Your personal brand starts with the one thing that excites you. When you find it, talk about it, research it, and then share it with others. Slowly, people associate you with that passion, and this is where your personal brand comes into existence.

2. Be seen (even when it makes you uncomfortable)

Honestly, sharing your views on the internet can be uncomfortable at first. You might doubt every word you write or fear that no one will care. But the truth is that we all start from there. The first post may garner very little attention, but that is okay. The goal is not to get viral, it is to show what you are learning and thinking.

Talk about the things you have learned during your internship, write a journal entry of a project you are proud of, or share the lessons you learned from a failure. Being real is always more than being perfect.

3. Build real connections

Networking does not mean that you send a hundred request letters all with the same bland message. It is more about initiating real conversations. Write a comment on a person’s post if it really touched you. Asking relevant questions. Writing to thank a person who has been your source of inspiration. People remember those little things, the real ones. Your network expands not because you are "trying to network" but because you are genuinely interested in learning from others.

4. Keep on learning and let others see that

The nicest thing about being young is that you are continuously learning. Every class, project, or discussion is part of your story. Don't be afraid to talk about that with others. If you understand something new or change your point of view, tell it. It demonstrates that you are eager and open to learning. Your personal brand is not about being the smartest one. Rather, it is about showing that you are still learning.

5. Be consistent!

It is not necessary for you to post every day or have a "perfect" image. Just try to be consistent in your self-presentation your manner, your convictions, and your work ethic. Moreover, don’t be afraid to develop and change. Your brand will change as you do. That is what makes it authentic.

Building a brand as a new professional is not an attempt to impress, but rather to be purposeful. It is being conscious of who you are, what you believe in, and how you would like others to feel when working with or around you.

You don’t need a vast number of followers or years of experience to make a start. Just start from where you are with the curiosity, integrity, and willingness to learn. Because in the future, the person you are creating today will be the reason another person will be inspired to create his/her own story.